Meier, K J Sebastian; Willems, Helmut (2003): Calcareous dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from the Mediterranean Sea [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.714255, Supplement to: Meier, KJS; Willems, H (2003): Calcareous dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from the Mediterranean Sea: distribution patterns and influence of main environmental gradients. Marine Micropaleontology, 48(3), 321-354, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8398(03)00028-8
Always quote citation above when using data! You can download the citation in several formats below.
Abstract:
The distribution of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from the Mediterranean Sea was quantitatively analysed. The samples contain 11 cyst species and the vegetative coccoid Thoracosphaera heimii. Cyst abundance increases towards the deeper parts of the basins and is generally higher in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Three major distribution characteristics exist: (1) different assemblages in oceanic and neritic regions, (2) little agreement with the associations of areas studied so far like the Atlantic Ocean, and (3) a unique oceanic assemblage in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. A gradual change in cyst assemblages from the western to the eastern Mediterranean Sea was observed and statistically compared with the main environmental gradients in the upper water column. Temperature, nitrate concentration and possibly salinity appear to be the most important factors controlling cyst production. Three groups containing cysts with similar environmental preferences can be distinguished: (1) an eastern Mediterranean group related to relatively high temperature and salinity but low nitrate concentration, (2) a group of more or less consistently abundant cosmopolitan species tolerating or even preferring relatively low temperature and salinity but high nitrate concentration, and (3) a group containing species that are possibly adapted to neritic environments and have probably been transported from coastal areas into the studied regions. In contrast to other calcareous plankton, calcareous dinoflagellate cysts correlate strongly with the main environmental gradients in the Mediterranean Sea, bearing a high potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.
Related to:
Meier, K J Sebastian (2003): Calcareous dinoflagellates from the Mediterranean Sea: taxonomy, ecology and palaeoenvironmental application. Berichte aus dem Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Universität Bremen, 206, 126 pp, urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-ep000103281
Project(s):
Funding:
Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), grant/award no. 36949: Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modelling Ecosystem Changes
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 35.887256 * Median Longitude: 18.152958 * South-bound Latitude: 32.321500 * West-bound Longitude: -1.949800 * North-bound Latitude: 42.461500 * East-bound Longitude: 34.649200
Date/Time Start: 1998-01-22T01:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2001-11-26T21:35:00
Event(s):
GeoB5845-1 * Latitude: 32.321500 * Longitude: 34.165000 * Date/Time: 1999-04-05T06:30:00 * Elevation: -1284.0 m * Recovery: 0.42 m * Location: Eastern Mediterranean Sea * Campaign: M44/3 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: MultiCorer (MUC) * Comment: 2 big tubes filled
GeoB5847-1 * Latitude: 32.820500 * Longitude: 34.164000 * Date/Time: 1999-04-06T08:48:00 * Elevation: -1532.0 m * Recovery: 0.4 m * Location: Eastern Mediterranean Sea * Campaign: M44/3 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: MultiCorer (MUC) * Comment: 3 big tubes filled
M40/4_MC90 (90) * Latitude: 36.016700 * Longitude: -1.949800 * Date/Time: 1998-02-09T17:12:00 * Elevation: -1955.0 m * Campaign: M40/4 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: MultiCorer (MUC)
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
2 datasets
Download Data
Datasets listed in this publication series
- Meier, KJS; Willems, H (2003): Calcareous dinoflagellates nominated in grain fraction > 20 µm. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.77236
- Meier, KJS; Willems, H (2003): Calcareous dinoflagellates nominated in grain fraction < 20 µm. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.77235